How do I Cope with a College Rejection Letter?

Coping with a college rejection letter can be difficult, particularly if you had your heart set on going to a specific college. You may choose to seek support from friends, to try to think of positive aspects of other schools you may have been accepted to, or try to be proactive and make different plans for your future. It is important to realize that a college rejection letter is only one missed opportunity, and there are plenty of other opportunities that you may be able to try.

One of the best ways to ameliorate the effect of a college rejection letter is to apply to a number of different colleges in the first place. Academic advisors usually recommend applying to "choice" colleges as well as back-up schools that may not be your first choice, but that you will still be happy to attend. This way, even if you do not get accepted to your dream school, you will have other options to fall back on. Even if you did not do this, there are ways to deal with a college rejection letter and still go to college.

Keep in mind that just because the college rejected you this year doesn't mean they will reject you in the future if you demonstrate academic success elsewhere. A number of people start their higher education paths at community colleges or state schools, and then transfer to a four-year or private school after one or two years. This gives you the opportunity to prove that you can be successful in a collegiate, academic environment, and may make your dream college more likely to offer you admittance when you reapply. In addition, starting your college education at a less prestigious school will frequently help you to save a great deal of money on tuition.

Of course, you may also choose to rely on friends and family for support if you feel depressed after receiving a college rejection letter. It is important to not take the rejection personally, and to recognize any areas that you may need to improve without beating yourself up about previous mistakes. Many colleges get thousands of applicants a year, and it is quite difficult to get accepted. Some people find that receiving a college rejection letter forces them to consider other career paths, or even to take a year off from school and travel or do volunteer work. A rejection letter need not be a disaster.